“Holes the size of city blocks are forming in the Arctic seafloor. Marine scientists have discovered deep sinkholes — one larger than a city block of six-story buildings — and ice-filled hills that have formed “extraordinarily” rapidly on a remote part of the Arctic seafloor…
“The changes the scientists observed occurred between 2010 and 2019, during which four mapping surveys had taken place.”
https://edition.cnn.com/2022/03/14/world/arctic-seafloor-holes-permafrost-scn/index.html
“A strong “heatwave” is developing in the Polar circle, with surface temperatures up to 30 degrees C above the long-term average.
“Strong pressure systems are driving a large air mass transport event, bringing warmer than normal temperatures into the Polar regions. Strong pressure systems in the sub-polar regions are creating a “wind tunnel” from the North Atlantic into the Polar Circle.”
“New record of low pressure in Greenland.
“With 934.1 hpa, Ikermiuarsuk set a new record beat the previous record of 936.2 hpa which was set in two occasions:always at Ikermiuarsuk on 14 December 1986 and at Paamiut on 16 January 1988.”
https://twitter.com/extremetemps/status/1503445866111246348
“While most of Europe has seen very cold conditions, the West and the North (Scandinavia) have been with mild temperatures this March.
“On 12 March there were some monthly records of highest temperatures in Norway: Tromso 9.7C (1925-); Buholmrasa 12.6C (1965-); Ona II 13.1C (1979-).”
https://twitter.com/extremetemps/status/1503657263294152704
“Eastern Cape [South Africa] water crisis: City dam levels still at dangerous 15%.
“The water situation in many parts of the Eastern Cape is still in a frightening position. If it isn’t the horrible quality of water being seen in Gqeberha and the Nelson Mandela bay area, it’s the fact that dam levels are staggeringly low.”
https://www.thesouthafrican.com/news/eastern-cape-dam-levels-15-percent-kouga/
“Historic drought looms for 20 million living in Horn of Africa.
“As many as 20 million people in four African countries are facing extreme hardship and food shortages as an exceptionally long and severe drought grips the eastern Horn of Africa. Three rainy seasons in a row have failed to materialize.”
“Pakistan to Experience Record-Breaking Heat Wave This Week.
“According to an advisory by the Pakistan Metrological Department (PMD), the temperature in Northern Balochistan, Upper Sindh, South Punjab, Kashmir and adjoining areas during the daytime will remain 9°C to 10°C above normal temperature.”
https://propakistani.pk/2022/03/15/pakistan-to-experience-record-breaking-heat-wave-this-week/
“Extreme heat wave in Myanmar, on 14th March temperature reached 43.0C / 109.4F at Magwe, 42.5C at Minbu and Bagan, 42.2C at Prome.
“These are record temperatures for the first half of March and only 0.5C from the Myanmar highest temperature in March which was set at Monywa in 2010.”
https://twitter.com/extremetemps/status/1503345449658421248
“Parts of Japan are enjoying exceptionally warm weather. 37 March records for high temperatures were broken on Monday & Tuesday. Thanks to that, the cherry blossom season will likely arrive earlier than normal.”
https://twitter.com/sayakasofiamori/status/1503651042969366529
“‘A lot of damage’ done to crops and livestock after flood crisis [NSW, Australia].
“NSW Farmers Federation President James Jackson says the there has been a lot of damage done to crops and livestock by recent flooding. “We’ve seen a lot of crops damaged… We’ve seen a huge amount of damage to our dairy herd…””
“No pressure! Brazil’s corn success is critical given Ukraine uncertainties…
“Drought concerns in South America were completely warranted, as top soybean exporter Brazil suffered its worst crop losses in recent memory… But Brazil’s upcoming corn crop may be more important than ever in light of the crisis in No. 4 exporter Ukraine…”
“Marginal power costs jump in southern Chile as drought bites.
“Marginal costs in the southern section of Chile’s national electricity grid jumped in February, demonstrating the strain on the region’s hydroelectric generators due to the continued lack of rainfall.”
https://www.bnamericas.com/en/news/marginal-power-costs-jump-in-southern-chile-as-drought-bites
“Lake Mead and Colorado River Basin Water Shortage: Causes, Effects, and Policy Solutions…
“The water shortage is expected to have cascading influence beyond Lake Mead and could potentially disrupt political agreements and management guidelines that have governed the Colorado River Basin since the early 1900s.”
https://earth.org/lake-mead-and-colorado-river-basin-water-shortage/
“Record-breaking drought covers the High Plains [Texas].
“According to the most recently updated information from the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB), the majority of counties across the High Plains have continued to experience extreme drought conditions.”
https://www.myhighplains.com/news/local-news/report-record-breaking-drought-covers-the-high-plains/
“A worsening drought in the southern U.S. Plains is threatening the region’s winter wheat crop just as the Ukraine crisis dents global supplies…
“Water woes follow a freak December wind storm that swept away some topsoil in parts of the U.S. wheat belt, damaging some cropland.”
“How climate change is leading to bigger hailstones.
“Rising global temperatures might be causing hailstorms to become more violent, with larger chunks of ice and more intense downpours. But just how big can a hailstone get?”
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20220314-how-big-can-hailstones-grow
“Sea ice that slowed the flow of Antarctic glaciers abruptly shatters in three days…
“NASA satellites captured the break-up between January 19 and 21, and with it saw calving of icebergs from Crane Glacier and its neighbors as the sea ice no longer buttressed their fronts. Now more vulnerable to melting and acceleration into the ocean, the glaciers that line the Antarctic Peninsula could add directly to sea level.”
https://phys.org/news/2022-03-sea-ice-antarctic-glaciers-abruptly.html
You can read the previous ‘Climate’ thread here. I’ll be back tomorrow with an ‘Economic’ thread tomorrow, Covid allowing.
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You feeling better?
John, thank you for asking. I still have a temperature, sore throat and headache but I feel better than yesterday and am no longer bedbound, so moving in the right direction!